No contact between Sask. households beginning immediately, says public health

Saskatchewan public health has announced that household contact has been suspended across the province, due to continued increases in transmission rates in several areas.

Effective immediately on April 13, households in Saskatchewan are now limited to gathering with immediate household members only, with no outside contact allowed. Exceptions will be made for co-parenting arrangements and in-home caregivers.

Further updates to the current public health orders will also limit gathering sizes for places of worship to no more than 30 people, beginning on April 16.

The new measures apply to the entire province and will remain in place until April 26 when they will be reviewed for extension.

Chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab and Health Minister Paul Merriman held a press conference on April 13, discussing the changes.

“We had hoped to avoid reinstating these restrictions, but it is something we need to do for just a few more weeks,” said Merriman. “Transmission has been increasing in many areas of Saskatchewan, and until more of us get vaccinated, there is still a chance of catching COVID-19.” Saskatoon has been noted to have an increase in cases reported to be variants of concern, and Regina and Moose Jaw remain on public health’s radar for active variant cases.

Shahab said that transmission has been largely happening within the household setting, which is part of the reason that public health has chosen to tighten restrictions across the entire province and not just in Regina and Saskatoon. “This caution around household bubbles is critical, like it was in December,” said Shahab.

Saskatchewan residents are also encouraged to consider working from home or within small cohorts where possible, to minimize contact where possible. “I strongly believe we are close to getting enough vaccinations that we can begin to relax public health orders and restrictions, but we aren’t there yet,” said Merriman. Shahab and Merriman encouraged all residents to take vaccines as they become available, and to continue to practice personal protective measures by limiting public contact whenever possible.